Sheet supporting and positioning device.



No. 640,799. Patented Ian, 9, I900.

T. M. NORTH. SHEET SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING DEVICE.

(Application filed Mar. 8, 1899.)

3 SheetsSheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 640,799. Patented Ian. 9, I900. T. M. NORTH. SHEET SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING DEVICE.

(Application filad Mar. 8. 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 640,799. Patented Ian. 9, I900.-

T. M. NORTH.

SHEET SUPTORTING AND POSITIONING DEVICE. (Application fild mm. s, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

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THOMAS M. NORTH, OF NEWV YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE, THEO- DORE H. MEAD, AND CHARLES WV. CARPENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET SUPPORTING AN-D POSITIONING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,799, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed March 8. 1899.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beitknown that LTHOMAS M.NORTH,asubject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at New York, county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet Supporting and Positioning Devices, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forminga part of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices for supporting sheets of paper fed to a printing-machine and for properly positioning them in order that they may be taken by the cylinder-grippers.

In printing-machines as now usually constructed that edge of the feed-board which is nearest the impression-cylinder is provided with sheet-supporting tongues which are or dinarily constructed from thin sheet metal. The purpose of these tongues is to support the forward edge of the sheet clear of the feedboard, so that the cylinder-grippers may close down upon it as the cylinder rotates. In order to produce the best results, however, it is desirable that the grippers be so constructed that in their closed position they lie somewhat inside the circumferential line of the cylinder. The sheet-metal tongues before adverted to, however, necessarily lie outside the circumferential line of the cylinder. WVhen, therefore, the gripper-fingers close upon the sheet, they are apt to tear or buckle the edge of the sheet, because the tongues support certain parts of the sheet on one level, and the gripper-fingers closing on the sheet necessarily force another part of it to a lower level.

It is the object of the present invention to provide devices for supporting the edge of the sheet in position to be taken by the cylindergrippers of a printing machine or by the grippers of any other gripper-carrier which are of such a character that thegrippers may be closed fully down upon the sheet before it is taken from the feed-board or other sheet support without tearing or buckling the edge of the sheet.

Vith this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combina- Serial No. 708,190. (No model.)

when thecylinder-grippers take the sheet;

and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation showing the position of the parts just prior to the final closing of the grippers in the sheet-taking operation.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of i the machine, in which is mounted an impression-cylinder 2, the shaft of the cylinder being journaled in the usual boxes 3. The position of the boxes 3 is controlled by setscrews 4 in a usual manner.

On the frame of the machine is-supported a feed-board 5, the forward end of this feedboard being provided with the usual metal facing-plate 6, which extends somewhat beyond the edge of the feed-board and over the cylinder.

In a machine constructed in accordance with the invention the sheet is moved into the position which it occupies when it is taken by the grippers before the grippers have reached the sheet-taking point. WVhen the sheet is fed in position to be taken by the grippers, its forward edge lies considerably beyond the forward edge of the metal facing-plate 6 of the feed-board. Devices are therefore necessarily provided in order to properly support the projecting edge of the sheet. These devices may be widely varied in construction.

In the preferred form of the machine the frame is provided with upright standards 7, in which is journaled a rock-shaft 8. This rock-shaft 8 has secured to it suitable depending arms 9, in which is carried a rod 10, which extends across the machine from sideto side. This cross-rod 10 has secured to it by set-screws 11 or in any other suitable manner sheet-edge-snpporting devices, which are preferably in the form of a series of supporting-fingers 12. These supporting-lingers preferably have a curved portion 13 and a forwardly extending straight portion 14. This straight portion is so constructed that when the supporting-fingers are swung into their foremost position its top will form a continuation of and preferably lie substantially in the same plane with the top of the feed-board, the straight portions of the tingers occupying the same angle with relation to the circumference of the impression-cylinder that the feed-board does. The position of the edge-supporting fingers must necessarily be shifted to permit the grippers on the cylinder or other carrier to take the sheet. In the construction shown this is effected by rocking the shaft 8.

The rock-shaft 8 may be operated from any suitable part of the machine. Preferably, however, it is operated by a rock-arm 15, to which is connected a rod 16. This rod 16 extends downward and has on its lower end a roll 17, which is in position to be struck at the proper time by a cam 18 on the shaft of the impression-cylinder. The cam 18 might be constructed as a closed cam, and thus opcrate to give the rock-shaft its movement in both directions. Preferably, however, a spring 19 is connected to the rock-arm and to a bracket 20 on the frame of the machine. The spring thus operates to swing the fingers into their forward position when the roll 17 runs ofi the cam 18.

The sheet is fed into position when the supporting-fingers 12 are in their forward position or in the position shown in Fig. 3. In order that the sheet may be fed precisely the proper distance forward, suitable front steps are provided. These front stops may be of any suitable or desired construction. In the machine shown, however, these front stops consist of bent arms 21, suitably secured to brackets 22,which are in their turn supported on a rock-shaft 23, suitably mounted in the frame of the machine. This rock-shaft 23 is provided with an arm 24:, to which is connected a rod 25, carrying a bowl 26. The bowl 26 runs on a cam 27, also preferably carried upon the cylinder-shaft, and the rod 25 is guided in its movement by a pin-and-slot connection of the ordinary description. The bent arms 21 carry the usual spring-guides 42, which operate to prevent the forward edge of the sheet from rising.

The bent front stop-arms 21 preferably have their forward edges provided with recessed portions 28. These bent front stop-arms may be located at any suitable point in the length of the shaft 23, and there may be as many of them as is desired. There will, however, preferably be at least two of such arms employed and these arms located so as to straddle two of the supporting-fingers 12, these fingers being received in the recesses 28, before described. This construction prevents the edge of the sheet from passing between the supporting-fingers and the front stop 21.

The cylinder may be provided with grippers of any usual construction operated in any usual manner. Preferably, however,the grippers will consist of the usual grippenfingers 29, mounted on a shaft 30, which extends across the cylinder from side to side, being journaled in the cylinder-heads. This shaft 30 is prorided with the usual curved tumbling-blocl; 31, which is operated to open and close the grippers by fixed studs on the frame of the machine. Only one of these studs is shown, this stud being marked 32. The grippers are assisted in their opening and closing movement and held opened or closed by means of a spring 33, operating in connection with the rod 3%, which is secured to the gripper tumbling-block 31 and to a guide 35, suitably secured to the cylinder, this being a usual construction.

While the supporting-fingers 12 might be depended on to support the forward end of the sheet and be arranged so as to back out from under the sheet just as it is taken by the grippers, the construction is preferably of such a character that these supporting-fingers 12 swing out of the way before the grip pers take the sheet. Preferably, therefore, there are provided additional sheet-support ing devices which act to support the sheets after the supportingfingers 12 have retreated. This additional sheet-supporting device may be widely varied in construction. In the machine shown, however, there is provided a shaft 36, which extends across the cylinder from side to side, this shaft being substantially parallel with the gripper-shaft. This'shaft 36 has secured to it curved supporting-shoes 37, which are so arranged as to be moved into position under the sheet by the rotation of the cylinder as the supporting-fingers 12 swing away from beneath it. The curvature of the supporting-shoes preferably corresponds to that of the cylinder. It follows, therefore, that the position of these shoes must be shifted after they have passed under the sheet in order to enable the grippers to close down upon he edge of the sheet, it being borne in mind that the grippers in their closed position lie somewhat inside the circumferential line of the cylinder. The shifting of the position of the supportingshoes is preferably accomplished by rocking the shaft 36, so as to cause the rear ends of the curved shoes to move inward toward the center of the cylinder. They are thus shifted out of the way sufficiently to permit the grippers to close down upon the sheets.

The shaft 36 may be operated in various ways. Preferably,however,there is connected to-it an arm 38, which is so arranged as to be struck and moved by a cam 39, mounted on the gripper-shaft 30. The arm 38 is held against the cam-89 and given a movement in opposition to the movement produced by the cam by means of a spring 43, Which surrounds a rod 40, which is suitably connected to the arm 38. At its other end the rod 40 passes through a guide 41, suitably secured to the cylinder. It will be noticed that the su pporting-shoes are so constructed that when they are in their uppermost position their top edges are substantially in the same horizontal plane as the tops of the supporting-fingers 12.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assumingthe supporting-fingers and the front stops to be in the position shown in Fig. 3, the feeder advances a sheet down the feedboard untilits forward edge lies upon the supporting-fingers and comes against the front stops. The cylinder now rotates into the position indicated in Fig. 3. The supportingshoes 37, which at this time are in their outward position, now act to support the sheet. As the cylinder continues its rotation the cam 18 rocks the supporting-fingers12iuto the position shown in Fig. at, and the supportingshoes 37 are also carried into the position shown in that figure. The grippers have, furthermore, been swung by the engagement of the tumbling-block 31 with the stud 32 into position where they are just about to close upon the sheet. As the cylinder continues to rotate the grippers close down upon the sheet, and in so doing the cam 39, which is mounted on the gripper-shaft, acts on the arm 38 of the shaft 36, which carries the shoes 37 and rocks said shaft, so that the inner ends of the shoes moveinward as the grippers close. At the time the sheet is taken by the grippers, therefore, its forward edge can be bent inward somewhat, and at the same time the sheet is not liable to become buckled or torn, as it would be if certain parts of it were strained over supporting-fingers carried by the feedboard. In the further rotation of the cylinder the front stops are rocked back out of the way in the usual manner and the sheet is carried on to be printed.

The construction just described is of particular use in connection with printing-machines of the continuous-revolution type. It will be understood, however, that the invention while particularly applicable to use with this class of machines is not restricted to such use. It may be used with any type of printing-machine employing a gripper-carrier or, indeed, in machines other than printing-machines. It will be understood, furthermore, that any suitable type of form-carrying member may be used in connection with a cylinder such as shown. Inasmuch, however, as such form-carrying member has no relation to the invention, it has not been shown.

It will be understood that the mechanism by which the invention is carried into effect may be widely varied. The invention is not therefore to be limited to the particular mechanical devices which have been shown and described, but is to be construed as including all changes and variations of construction which fall within its spirit and scope.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, edgesupporting devices, means whereby the position of the edge-supporting devices is shifted to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edge-supporting devices are shifted,substantially as described.

2. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a rotating carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, edge-supporting devices, means wherby the position of the edge-supporting devices is shifted to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edgesupporting devices 'are shifted, substantially as described.

3. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a continuously-rotating carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, edge-supporting de vices, means whereby the position of the edgesupporting devices is shifted to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edge-supporting devices are shifted, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a gripper-carrier and its grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, edgesupporting devices, means whereby the position of the edge-supporting devices is shifted to enable the grippers to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edge-supporting devices are shifted, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a rotating grippercarrier and its grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, edge-supporting devices, means whereby the position of the edge-supporting devices is shifted to enable the grippers to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edge-supporting devices are shifted, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a continuouslyrotating gripper-carrier and its grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, edge-supporting devices, means whereby the position of the edge-supporting devices is shifted to enable the grippers to take the sheet, and means for support- IIO ing the edge of the sheet after the edge-sup- 8. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a rotating carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, a series of fingers for supporting the edge of the sheet, means whereby the fingers are shifted to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers are shifted, substantially as described.

9. The combination with sheet-taking devices,of a continuously-rotating carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, a series of fingers for supporting the edge of the sheet, means whereby the fingers are shifted to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and

means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers are shifted, substantially as described.

10. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a carrier therefor, asnpport by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, a rock-shaft supported above the path of the carrier, sheet-supporting fingers carried by the shaft, means for rocking the shaft to shift the position of the fingers to enable the sheettaking devices to take the sheet, and additional edge-supporting devices, substantially as described.

11. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a rotating carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, a rock-shaft supported above'the path of the carrier, sheet-supporting fingers carried by the shaft, means for rocking the shaft to shift the position of the fingers to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and additional edge-supporting devices, substantially as described.

12. The combination with sheet-taking devices, of a continuously-rotating carrier therefor, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, a rock-shaft sup ported above the path of the carrier, sheetsupporting fingers carried by the shaft, means for rocking the shaft to shift the position of the fingers to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, and additional edge-supporting devices, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a gripper-carrier having grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, a rockshaft supported above the path of the carrier, sheet-supporting fingers carried by the shaft, means for rocking the shaft to shift the position of the fingers to enable the grippers to take the sheet, and additional edgesupporting devices, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a rotating gripper-carrier having grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, a rock-shaft supported above the path of the carrier, sheet-supporting fingers carried by the shaft, means for rocking the shaft to shift the position of the fingers to enable the grippers to take the sheet, and

erases rocking the shaft to shift the position of the fingers to enable the grippers to take the sheet,and additional edge-su pportin g devices, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of an edge-support, means for moving the edge-support into and out of operative position, means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edge-support is moved out of operative position, a front stop, and means for operating said step, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a support by which the body of a sheet ismaintained in po* sition, of edge-supporting fingers, means for moving the fingers into and out of operative position and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of operative position, substantially as described.

IS. The combination with a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of an edge-support formed so that when in operative position its top lies in substantially the same plane with the sheet support and forms substantially a prolongation thereof, means for moving it into and out of operative position, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the edge-support is moved out of operative position, substantially as described.

, 19. The combination with a rotating carrier provided with grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, the support being arranged at an an gle to the path of travel of the carrier, a series of sheetsupporting fingers having straight portions, the tops of which in one position of the fingers lie in the same plane with and form a contin nation of the sheet-support, means Whereby the fingers are shifted into position to support the edge of the sheet and out of position to permit the grippers to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a continuouslyrotating carrier provided with grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, the support being arranged at an angle to the path of travel of the carrier, a series of sheet-supporting fingers provided with straight portions the tops of which in one position of the fingers lie in the same plane with and form a continuation of the sheet-support, means whereby the fingers are shifted into position to support the edge of the sheet and out of position to permit the grippers to take the sheet, and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, substantially as described.

21. The combination with a rotating carrier provided with grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, the support being arranged at an angle to the path of travel of the grippers, edge-supporting fingers having straight portions the tops of which in one position of the fingers lie in the same plane with and form a continuation of the sheet-support, means for shifting the fingers into position to receive the edge of the sheet and out of position to enable the grippers to take the sheet, means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, suitable front stops, and means for operating said stops, substantially as described.

22. The combination with a continuouslyrotating carrier provided with grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, the support being arranged at an angle to the path of travel of the grippers, edge-supporting fingers having straight portions the tops of which in one position of the fingers lie in the same plane with and form a continuation of the sheet-support, means for shifting the fingers into position to receive the edge of the sheet and out of position to enable the grippers to take the sheet, means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, suitable front stops, and means for operating said stops, substantially as described.

23. The combination with a continuouslyrotating carrier, of a series of sheet-taking devices mounted thereon, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position, a rock-shaft, edge-supporting fingers carried by the rock-shaft, a cam on the shaft of the carrier, means whereby the cam is caused to rock the shaft to shift the fingers into position to receive the edge of the sheet and out of position to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet and means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, substantially as described.

24. The combination with a continuouslyrotating carrier, of a series of sheet-taking devices mounted thereon, a support by which the body of the sheet is maintained in position,arock-shaft,edge-supporting fingers carried by the rock-shaft,a cam on the shaft of the carrier, means whereby the cam is caused to rock the shaft to shift the fingers into position to receive the edge of the sheet and out of position to enable the sheet-taking devices to take the sheet, means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, front stops, and means for operating said stops, substantially as described.

25. The combination with a continuouslyrotating carrier provided with grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is mainporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position,substantially as described.

26. The combination with a continuouslyrotating carrier provided with grippers, of a support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, a rock-shaft, edge-supporting fingers carried by, the rock-shaft, a cam on the shaft of the carrier, means whereby the cam is caused to rock the shaft to shift the fingers into position to receive the edge of the sheet and out of position to enable the grippers to take the sheet, means for supporting the edge of the sheet after the fingers have been moved out of position, suitable front stops, and means for operating said stops, substantially as described.

27. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of a carrier, sheet-edge-support ing devices mounted on the carrier, grippers also mounted on the carrier, and means whereby the position of said supporting devices is shifted to enable the grippers to take the sheet, substantially as described.

28. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, a rotating carrier, sheet-edgesupporting devices mounted on the carrier, grippers also mounted on the carrier, and means whereby the position of said supporting devices is shifted to enable the grippers to take the sheet, substantially as described.

29. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of a continuously-rotating carrier, sheet-edge-supporting devices mounted on the carrier, grippers also mounted on the carrier, and means whereby the position of said supporting devices is shifted to enable the grippers to take the sheet, substantiall as described.

80. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of a rotating carrier, sheet-edgesupporting devices pivoted in the carrier, grippers mounted on the carrier, and means whereby the edge supporting devices are rocked about their pivot to enable the grip pers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

31. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of a rotating carrier, a gripper mechanism carried thereby, sheet-edge-supportingdevices mounted on the carrier, and means operated from the gripper mechanism for shifting the position of said supporting devices to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

32. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position,of a rotating carrier, gripper mechanism mounted therein, supporting devices for the edge of the sheet pivoted in the carrier, and means operated from the gripper mechanism for rocking said supporting devices about their pivot in order to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

33. The combination with a sheet-support by which the body of a sheet is maintained in position, of a rotating carrier, a gripper mechanism mounted therein, a rock-shaft mounted in the carricr,curved sheet-supporting shoes mounted on the shaft, and means operated from the gripper mechanism for rocking the shoe-supporting shaft in order to shift the position of the shoes to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

34:. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position, of a rotating carrier, a gripper-shaft mounted therein, grippers mounted on the shaft, a rock-shaft, curved sheet-supporting shoes mounted on the rock-shaft, an arm extending from the rock-shaft, a cam mounted on the gripper-shaft and operating upon the arm, means for holding the arm against the cam and means for rocking the gripper-shaft, substantially as described. 35. The combination with a support for maintaining the body or" a sheet in position, of two sets of sheet-edge-supporting devices, and means whereby they are brought into operation successively, substantially as described.

36. The combination with a support for maintaining the body of a sheet in position, of two sets of sheet-edge-supporting devices, means whereby they are brought into operation successively, a rotating gripper-carrier having grippers, and means for shifting the position of the edge-so pporting devices which come into operation last to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

37. The combination with a support for maintaining the body of a sheet in position, of two sets of sheet-edge-supporting devices, means whereby they are brought into operation successively, a continuously rotating gripper-carrier having grippers, and means for shifting the position of the edge-supporting devices which come into operation last to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

38. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position, of a carrier, a gripper mechanism mounted therein, edge supporting devices mounted above the path of the carrier, edgesupporting devices mounted in the carrier, means for shifting the first set of edge-supporting devices out of operative position as the second set of edge-supporting devices come into position, and means for shifting the position of the second edge-supporting devices in order to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

39. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position, of a carrier, a gripper mechanism mounted therein, edge supporting devices mounted above the path of the carrier, edgesupporting devices mounted in the carrier, means for shifting the first set of edge-supporting devices out of operative position as the second set of edge-supporting devices come into position, means for shifting the po sition of the second set of ed gesupporting devices in order to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, suitable front stops, and means for operating the same, substantially as described.

40. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position, of a continuously-rotating carrier, a gripper mechanism mounted therein, edgesupporting devices mounted above the path of the carrier, edge-supporting devices mounted in the carrier, means for shifting the first set of edge-supporting devices out of operative position as the second set of edge-supporting devices come into position, and means for shifting the position of the supplementary edge-supporting devices in order to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, substautially as described. 7

41. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position,of a continuously-rotating carrier,a gripper mechanism mounted therein, edge-supporting devices mounted above the path of the carrier, edge-supporting devices mounted in the carrier, means for shifting the first set of edge-supporting devices out of operative position as the second set of edge-supporting devices come into position, means for shifting the position of the second set of edge-supporting devices in order to enable the grippers to close down upon the sheet, suitable front stops, and means for operating said stops, substantially as described.

42. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position, of a rock-shaft, sheet-edgesupp0rting fingers carried by the rock-shaft, a continuously-rotatin g carrier, a gripper mechanism mounted in the carrier, edge-supporting devices also mounted in the carrier, a cam on the shaft of the carrier, means whereby the cam rocks the first set of edge-supporting fingers out of position as the second set of edge-supporting devices come into position, and means operated from the gripper mechanism for shifting the position of the second set of edge-supporting devices in order to enable the gripper mechanism to close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

43. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheet in position,of acontinuously-rotatingcarrier,a rockshaft contiguous to the path of the carrier, edgesupporting devices carried by the rockshaft, a gripper-shaft mounted in the carrier, means for operating it, grippers on the shaft, a rock-shaft also mounted in the carrier, curved sheet-supporting shoes carried by the rock-shaft, means for rocking the shaft to move the edge-supporting devices outof position as the curved shoes come into position, and means operated from the shaft of the gripper mechanism for rocking the shoe-carrying shaft to shift the'position of the shoes so that the grippers may close down upon the sheet, substantially as described.

44:. The combination with a sheet-support for maintaining the body of the sheetin position, of a continuously-rotating carrier,a rockshaft contiguous to the path of the carrier,

edge-supporting devices carried by the rockshaft, a gripper-shaft mounted in the carrier, means for operating it, grippers on the shaft, a rock-shaft also mounted in the carrier, curved sheet-s11 pportin g shoes carried by the rock-shaf t, means for rocking the shaft to move the edge-supporting devices out of position as the curved shoes come into position, means operated from the shaft of the gripper mechanism for rocking the shoecarrying shaft to shift the position of the shoes so that the grippers may close down upon the sheet, suitable front stops, and means for operating said stops, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS M. NORTH. W'itnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, L. RoEHM. 

